“Damsels In Distress” (2012, Sony, PG-13, $30) Not unlike Wes Anderson, writer/director Whit Stillman (“Metropolitan”) has a knack for creating characters who seem to exist in their own worlds. Take Violet (Greta Gerwig), for instance. The college junior believes that donuts cure depression and that introducing “an international dance craze” is the height of achievement. At the beginning of the film, Violet takes a transfer student (Annaleigh Tipton) under her wing with “All About Eve”-ish results. “Damsels” suffers from pacing problems but Stillman makes you care about his ferociously flawed, idiosyncratic characters - and that’s worth celebrating. Extras: cast and crew commentaries, featurette, deleted scenes and outtakes.

“Salvation Boulevard” (2010), Sony, R, $27) Adapted from a novel by Larry Beinhart (“Wag the Dog”), this star-studded oddity begins with an Evangelical pastor (Pierce Brosnan) accidentally shooting an atheist professor (Ed Harris) and trying to cover it up with the help of his henchman (Jim Gaffigan). Caught in the middle is Carl (Greg Kinnear), a parishioner who witnesses the mishap and soon finds himself on the run. Helmer Gregory Ratliff (“Hell House”) can’t decide whether he’s directing a satire, a farce or a mystery. The movie’s saving grace is the talented cast, particularly Jennifer Connelly and Marisa Tomei who pop up as, respectively, Carl’s super-devout wife and a Deadhead security guard. Extras: none.

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“Delicacy” (2012, E1, PG-13, $28) “Amelie’s” Audrey Tautou is charm incarnate as a young Parisian woman who seems to have it all until she loses her boyfriend in an accident. Afterwards, Tautou retreats into her work, unable or unwilling to move on. Then one day, for no apparent reason, she kisses a gangly, gap-toothed co-worker (François Damiens) who quickly becomes smitten with her. Thus begins a tale of unexpected romance. Despite some wobbly patches, “Delicacy” casts a strange spell. Extras: featurettes.

“The Magic Of Belle Isle” (2012, Magnolia, PG, $30) It would be easy to sneer at Rob Reiner’s sentimental drama about a bitter, wheelchair-bound writer (Morgan Freeman) who strikes up a life-altering friendship with a single mother (a fine Virginia Madsen) and her three young daughters. Sure, it’s predictable, sugary and photographed to look like a shampoo commercial. But “Belle Isle” has a secret weapon in Freeman. Under Reiner’s patient direction, the actor finds the humor and grit in a grumpy old man who overcomes depression to snatch a second chance at life. Extras: featurettes and commentary track with Reiner, Madsen and Freeman.

“Detachment” (2012, New Video, unrated, $25) In his strongest performance since “The Pianist,” Adrien Brody plays Henry Barthes, a substitute schoolteacher dealing with apathetic students and burned-out instructors (James Caan, Blythe Danner, Marcia Gay Harden, Christina Hendricks, Lucy Liu). At home, he grapples with the suicide of his mother and the appearance of a teenage runaway (Sami Gayle) who’s as unhinged as he is. The nervy style of director Tony Kaye (“American History X”) perfectly suits the movie, which is as much about the state of the public school system as it is about Henry’s inner torment. Extras: featurettes.

“Just Around The Corner” (2012, Virgil, unrated, $20) Former record man Bob Benjamin was born in New Rochelle, N.Y., but it’s his love of Jersey artists like Bruce Springsteen and the Asbury Jukes that shaped his life. When Benjamin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and wanted to raise money for a cure, he headed to the Jersey Shore for a series of annual fundraising concerts. The shows, which benefit Benjamin’s Light of Day Foundation, are regularly attended by the likes of Willie Nile, Marah and Bruce Springsteen. The doc includes concert footage, interviews and a chronicle of Benjamin’s battle with Parkinson’s. Extras: musician bios.

“Bond 50” (1962-2010, Fox, R, $300) Is there any better way to celebrate James Bond’s 50th birthday than by watching all 22 of the films in high-def? While a dozen of 007’s adventures are already available on Blu-ray, this box set packages the earlier releases with the remaining nine titles (including “The Spy Who Loved Me,”“You Only Live Twice” and “Diamonds are Forever”) for a collection that’s downright spectacular. Extras: over 130 hours of featurettes including a bonus disc of material not available on earlier DVD editions.

“The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean” (1972, Warner Archive, PG, $25) Director John Huston once described his episodic, almost-surreal western as being “in the fine old American tradition of the Tall Tale, the Whopper, the yarn.” As played by Paul Newman, the notorious title character is turned into a comic figure who pals around with a bear, moons over posters of Lily Langtry (Ava Gardner) and departs the town he helped create when it becomes too respectable. As loony as some of the situations are, Huston never forgets he’s making a movie about the tug of war between progress and personal freedom. Extras: none.

“Desperate Housewives: The Complete Eighth and Final Season” (2011, Buena Vista, unrated, $45) Picking up right where the seventh season left off with Gabby (Eva Longoria), Susan (Teri Hatcher), Lynette (Felicity Huffman) and Bree (Marcia Cross) covering up the murder of Gabby’s abusive stepfather, the final season delivers plenty of suspense to go along with the soapier story elements. For fans who’ve stuck with the series despite its lapses (including most of the second season), the finale is a bittersweet delight. Extras: extended finale, featurettes, deleted scenes, bloopers and audio commentaries.

“The Crimson Petal And The White” (2012, Acorn, unrated, $40) We’re a long way from Downton Abbey in the BBC’s latest mini-series, a dark, twisty affair about a brainy prostitute (Romola Garai) in 1870s London who casts a spell over the foolish heir (Chris O’Dowd) to a perfume fortune. Not only is the supporting cast (Amanda Hale, Richard E. Grant, Gillian Anderson) first-rate but director Mark Munden accentuates the Gothic horror of the proceedings by employing an array of woozy camera tricks. London has never pulsed with quite as much malevolence before. Extras: deleted scenes and featurettes.

“The Carol Burnett Show: Carol’s Favorites”(2012, Time Life, unrated, $60) All of the classic sketches are here from “Went With the Wind” (in which Burnett and a curtain rod spoof “Gone With The Wind”) to the first appearance of The Family, the dysfunctional clan who inspired the spin-off series “Mama’s Family.” Also on tap: some hidden gems like an episode in which Michael Jackson shows off some pre-moonwalk dance moves and Carol duets with Maggie Smith. There’s 16 episodes on six discs. Extras: reunion specials, featurettes and rare sketches.

“BAD: 25th Anniversary Special Edition”(1987, Legacy, unrated, $35) Bundled together with an extras-laden re-issue of Michael Jackson’s “BAD” CD is a DVD of his July 16, 1988, concert at Wembley Stadium in London. Jackson was at the peak of his powers when he performed the show in front of 72,000 fans, including Prince Charles and Princess Diana. From the explosive opener (“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’) to the Jackson Five medley to the parade of solo hits (“Beat It,”“Billie Jean,”“Thriller”), the show ranks among Jackson’s best. Extras: booklets and bonus tracks.

Amy Longsdorf is a freelance entertainment writer. Her DVD reviews appear Sunday in The Mercury.